A Little Tough and Really Strange

Good Morning family and friends

So this week was a little tough and really strange. It first started with Elder Olmstead and I's encounter with an atheist. He kept on telling us the we didn't know anything and that we weren't open minded. He told us that we have been brain washed and there isn't a God that loves us. But Instead of just walking away we tried to testify of what we knew and that didn't work well.  he went off telling us we are ruining our lives at such a young age. So we just asked him if there was anything that we could do for him and decided to leave after 45 minutes of being bashed. But we left a Book of Mormon on his porch so hopefully he reads it. 

Also we had another lady tell us that we were anti-Christ. So I politely told her that the gospel and this religion was centered on Christ and she would not listen. I was thinking in my head okay keep telling me more about my religion and what I believe.  This week was hard also hard because all of the people we had appointments with thought it would be funny to ignore us. So yeah that made me pretty chapped. As you can tell we didn't teach many lessons. So that was a little rough.

The next day we had to go to the hospital because one of the sisters in our district got a flu shot and almost went down. The nurse was mad for her coming in for just being pale but like 5 minutes later her blood pressure dropped and the nurse said that we almost lost her. So yeah that was pretty nuts. But she's all good now and still smiling. 

Also the sisters in our district were having some tough times and we spent all week trying to help them out. Elder Olmsteads advice for them was to just get over it and they didn't like that very much so I got on my 'inner therapist' and tried to help these sisters out. I felt like It was an episode of Doctor Phil or something.  But everything is better with them so we're in good shape.

So this week I was thinking why we weren't having much success and I was blaming it on myself, which wasn't makeing since because we were obedient this week. But then Elder Olmstead told me Christ was perfectly obedient and did all he could and people still rejected him. And he had a lot worse weeks then we have. So it was a good reminder that when people reject us as long as we give it are all then Heavenly Father will be happy with us. 

But then I was reminded about something that happened Thursday and I realized that we did have success. So we taught Mary on Thursday and that was an amazing lesson. We asked her to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true and immediately she told us I already know it's true. We were so pleasantly surprised when she said this. Then she went on to say that she knew this church was true. She knows Jesus is the Christ and she knows it wasn't a coincidence we met her. She said "this is not just a religion, it's the truth." It was so amazing! The spirit was so strong. So she is excited to be baptized. That was such a testimony builder to me!

Also we had stake conference this week and we had president packers son Allen Packer of the 70 speak to us. This meeting was amazing! Also two of our investigators showed up. I felt the spirit so strong and I just had a very deep love for everybody. It made me realize how lucky I am to be out here serving these people. And even though they reject us I should always love them no matter what. So this next week I am going to work on just always having that love for the people. So this was another humbling week. I was very grateful for the increase of faith I gained this week.

Yeah just a crazy but good week out here. Even when it's hard I'm smiling at that is what is so great about this gospel. I love you all!

Have a great week.

Elder Jeppson

New Transfer, New Comp, MORE MIRACLES

Good Morning friends and family, This is Elder Jeppson speaking

This week was once again a good one! I am not with Elder Barola anymore. He is off to Bell Harbor. I'm not not gonna lie I will miss that man. He taught me so much, but there is one thing I learned from him that will always stick with me, and that is to give even when you don't have much. Anything he had he was offering away, he is always putting others needs before his own. He taught me how to truly love the people and I will always cherish that. Now I have a new companion named Elder Olmstead. It was funny because all last week I had a feeling that he was going to be my new companion, and once they called are names saying we were companions I just started laughing. Elder Olmstead and I hit it off right away. We are already on the same page and we are doing so much more work in Huntington. It's kinda funny because he is the senior companion and district leader but he follows everything I say. I love it so much. He's really funny also, so it's going to be a good transfer.

So within 2 days we found eight more investigators! It's been so amazing these last couple weeks! We taught all of them the restoration and they committed to read the Book of Mormon. And the amazing thing is, is that they all seemed sincere about it! The best thing about most of these people is that they all believe in God they just haven't found a church that they feel is right. So they are literally perfect investigators!

Also Elder Olmstead and I went to McDonalds for lunch the other day, and the lady who was taking our order asked what church we were from, so we explained and then she started telling us that she prays to God but doesn't have a church to go to. So then we told her we could help her come closer to God and she was so excited! She gave us her home address right away and we didn't even ask. She told us to visit her once a week! Her name is Shania and we'll be meeting with her today.

We also met a man Named Beau. We went to his house and him and all of his friends were smoking weed and drinking. He came outside and we talked to him for about ten minutes. We found out that his daughter died in a car accident when she was just fifteen months old. He was wondering where she was and if he would ever see her again. So we taught him the plan of salvation and after that lesson you could tell he felt the spirit. He also asked about the Book Of Mormon and we gave him one and he told us he would read it! He also invited us back next week. Once again we found another person that is prepared to hear the Gospel. 

Miracles are happening each and everyday!!!

And yesterday we were trying to find out who to visit, and I guy named Marlene came to mind. He has been an investigator for about two years now. He is nineteen and is very religious. He is having some problems with the Book of Mormon though. At first he told us that he read the Book Of Mormon and prayed about it, but didn't receive an answer. Then we asked him again Did you read the "Book Of Mormon?" Then the truth came out. He said that he has only read the introduction and a couple chapters in 1 Nephi. So we asked him right there "So don't you think It would be a good idea to read the whole thing?" And he was still shaky about it. So once again Elder Holland to the rescue! We showed him the video The Testimony of the Book Of Mormon. After the video Marlene aid "wow that is powerful." So we asked him will you read the Book Of Mormon? And he was still shaky at first but then said he would read it. The spirit was so strong in that lesson!

So that General Conference talk "What lack I yet"  I've gotten another answer to that question. And that answer was to rely on God more, and ever since I have done that he has lead us to amazing people. Just praying where to go knocking has changed our success so much. And all of those people above are proof. So if you are wondering what you should do better in life just ask in prayer and it will change everything for the better. I have seen that first hand and I know the same thing can happen to all of you.

Words can't explain how happy I am! Like I've said in the passed, this work is so fulfilling. Yes there is struggles sometimes but seeing others happy because of the gospel makes it all worth it. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Jeppson

We Wanted to Finish Strong! (End of Transfer 2)

Hey it's me!

This was the last week of the transfer and Elder Barola and I really wanted to finish strong, and well that's exactly what happened. It was very fulfilling! This week we found 13 more people to teach! We were wondering  where they have been this whole time and we found them all in the same neighborhood! It was simply a miracle. When you actually listen to the spirit on where to go great things happen. This was actually the first week that we achieved all of our goals also! We did so much teaching it was insane. There is so many pure In heart people that are ready for this gospel and we finally found some. We have 8 lessons set up next week so I will let you know how all of those go.

But Elder Barola will be getting transferred which makes me sad but the work still goes on. I'm glad I get to stay in this area though!

After that I went on an exchange with my zone leader -- "The Italian Stallion" -- Elder Resinelli. I went to his area for the day. We helped move an 1000 lb stove out of somebody's basement so that was a fun experience. After that we went to teach a lesson. And that lesson consisted of 2 hours of bible bashing. This guy would not commit to read the Book of Mormon. He is so focused on the bible that he says there is no need for another book. Anything we said he had something else to go against us and most of it didn't even make sense. But Elder Resinelli liked to bash back so that's why it was two hours. 

Finally I told Elder Resinelli to let me talk and I just testified about how the Book of Mormon has changed my life. I told him that it contains the fullness of the Gospel and how he can get all his questions answered by reading the Book of Mormon. Then we showed him a video from Elder Holland talking about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. It's called the "Testimony of the Book of Mormon" it is amazing. You should all watch it. But after we showed him he didn't say a word, the spirit was so strong and we could tell it was touching him. So we asked if he would read it and he finally committed to. It is so amazing when the spirit directs our lessons.

So this week I learned about the importance of testifying. If we show others how this gospel has changed our life's and that we know it's true, it truly impacts them. Always testify of what you know and always follow the spirit. I am very grateful for the experiences I had this week.

Thanks for everything! I love you all

Elder Jeppson

The Gospel Isn't Just The Best Way, It's The Only Way

Dearest family and friends,

This is your friend and mentor Elder Jeppson speaking. And I would just to let you all know that this week was impeccable. I learned so much and my testimony was definitely strengthened.

The week started out with me seeing my boss Mitch from the golf course I worked at.  He was in Manhattan for the week and we happened to be In Manhattan for an appointment. That was the last appointment so we will not be able to go to Manhattan anymore. So the timing couldn't have been better. He took us to lunch and also to the Met. The Met is in the top 5 museums in the world. It was pretty amazing. So that was
a great way to start out the week!

On Friday Elder Barola and I were having a rough day! We couldn't find anyone and all of the lessons that we had set up fell through. So we were pretty upset. But than Elder Barola said a prayer and after he said "we will find someone tonight" so we went knocking late at night which isn't the best thing to do but what I've learned is to never put off a spiritual prompting. So we found a neighborhood that we both felt good about. 

We got out of the car and it was pouring rain and it was so windy. But we still went out Knocking. The first house we went to we found a family. We set up a returned appointment with them and they seem very interested. The second house we knocked on we had a guy reject us with kindness, so at least that was good. And then we
knocked on one more house. A guy by the name of James answered the door. We explained that we were missionaries and that we have a unique message about our gospel and that it will bring everlasting happiness to his life. And without any hesitation he said "okay come in". We were so surprised because nobody else in New York just let's us in.

We taught him the whole restoration of the Gospel and gave him a Book of Mormon. The spirit was so strong in that lesson. He told us to come back every Friday! It's funny once again when we were discouraged the Lord showed us a miracle. It's amazing how Heavenly Fathers timing is always perfect. And This applies to everything. We may feel like we don't get answers to our prayers. But we do they just come on the Lords time. But the lords time is the best time. 

A great quote I heard from Jeffrey R Holland was "Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes."  Stand strong until
the answers to your prayers come!

Now general conference! This conference was amazing! This was the first conference that I actually watched every session and paid attention. I got an answer to everyone one of my questions! One talk that stuck out to me was by Elder Lawrence. He talked about how the spirit works on us a little bit at a time, otherwise we would get overwhelmed. 

Also another great principle I learned is that it's about the direction we are heading, not the speed we are going at. It's so true! It doesn't matter how long it takes to gain a testimony, it just matters if we are taking the necessary steps to gain one. I hope you
all got your answers from conference because I know I did. Don't just forget about this conference, go back and listen to these talks and I promise something new will touch your heart. But the biggest thing is to apply what we learned in our lives. Spiritual change happens when we apply what we learn.

So that was my week! I just want to let you guys know that I love this gospel so much! It's changed me more than I could've imagined. The Gospel isn't just the best way, it's the only way. And if you're ever struggling with your testimony Just take Elder Hollands advice and "Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes." I love you all thanks for the prayers and support!

With love,

Elder Jeppson

"Sometimes in life you're going to start out slow" Elder Jeppson

You guessed it, it's me once again

This week was very challenging. We didn't find any new people and we went knocking for many hours! So that was a little frustrating. Also we had investigators say that they were excited to Come to church on Sunday, but they never should up. So we went to visit them after church and they totally Ignored us. But that's just how missionary work goes. If missionary work was easy and great all the time then there wouldn't be any opportunities to grow. We have hard times so that we can be stronger and better missionaries. So far every week here has been a humbling experience. Once again sometimes In life you're going to start out slow, but it'll be alright.

Also we are having a lot of changes in our mission so it is hard to get used to the new rules. As of tomorrow there will be no more sports in our mission. When I heard that my heart was so sad😪 So today we went out on a high school football field and played flag football! It was a lot of fun and I made some nice catches so I'm pretty pumped about that😏 We had to make the best out of the last time. But I know that our mission president is an Inspired guy, so i know if I follow all these new rules then I will see a lot more miracles and see more blessings in my life. So I will be focusing on not what I'm giving up and more on what I will be receiving. I'm actually excited about the changes!

We had another great lesson with Mary this week and she is definitely going to get baptized and I am really happy about that. I love visiting her and her mom. Her mom is 91 and she has no filter. She joins in on our conversations and she likes to swear a lot. Everything she says is so funny! She also is now supporting Dio in getting baptized which is a huge step! We are so excited for her.

Oh and we went to The Brooklyn bridge this week! It is so amazing! I couldn't ask to be in a better place! I will send some pictures!

So that was my week! A lot of learning and growing. It was hard but rewarding. I can't get down on myself because I have seen so many miracles already so I just need more patients. But the New York New York South mission is the place to be. Thanks for all the prayer!  Love you all very much

With divine love,

Elder Jeppson

    

Repentence, It is so Beautiful

Good day family and friends it's me once again

This week was once again a good one! It started out with Elder Bennet (A general authority from the 70) came and talked to us. He came to help us out because we are the lowest baptizing mission in the U.S. So yeah that's unfortunate. He talked to us for seven hours on how we need to be exactly obedient and and not waste time. He told us if we are not on our knees before 6:31 A.M. we are choosing to be disobedient. So you could say that hit me pretty hard. He was yelling at us and it was beautiful. It's not very often where I'm excited when somebody is yelling at me. The spirit was so strong in that meeting. He is such an inspired man and I felt like he was just talking to me. So I know if wasn't just random that he was the one who came to our mission. He has what we need. He talked to mission president and I know a lot is going to change in our mission. It's going to be hard
but it's the only way for us to be better.

So this week I made sure I was up at 6:30 and in bed by 10:30. Andhonestly I saw a big difference in the work. We found so many more people this week and it's because I have the lords trust that I'm serious about this great work. And like I said we are a lot happier when we follow the schedule exactly. So I am once again grateful for
these humbling experiences.

We taught Julio this week and he really wants to know what the true church is. So he committed to sincerely read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Like the promise says in Moroni 10:3-5 if you ask with a sincere heart and real intent he will manifest it unto you. And I truly believe that Julio will get an answer. We will be meeting with him next Wednesday so I'll keep you posted on his progress. Also Dio is still progressing. She keeps on telling us "that there is nothing that will take her from this true Church". It's so great to see the change she is having and how much happier she is. She calls Elder Barola and I her spiritual grandchildren.

Also this week We were walking down the street with two other elders that went knocking with us and this big guy came up to us wondering what we were doing in his neighborhood. He was cussing us out and told us to leave his neighborhood. Then we told him we are just missionaries for our church and his attitude totally changed! He wasn't mad at us anymore and he started warning us about dangerous people in the neighborhood. So he apologized and told us to be safe and have a good night. It's cool to see when people recognize you are a representative of Jesus Christ.

And on Friday we went and did service for a lady in our ward and shewanted to call our parents to tell them how we are doing. We tried my mom first and she didn't answer so we called our home number and McKinsey answered. It was so good to hear her voice! I guess she told my parents that the mission president called so my dad called back thinking it was the mission president. So I bet him and my mom thought something bad happened to me. I'm all good though! But it was so good to hear my dads voice too! I didn't get to say anything but Hello but it was a cool experience. The best part about it was I didn't even get homesick. So it was great.

SO I have had a great week! Elder Barola and I will be in the city  tomorrow and probably will see the Empire State Building of Brooklyn bridge. so I will send more pics probably next week. I love you allhave a great week!

Elder Jeppson

Preach My Gospel: The Way to be an Effective Missionary

Braden Micah here,

This week has been a good one. I am really seeing the blessings of being exactly obedient. It seems when we follow our schedule and try our best we have the spirit all day and we are much happier. We had a zone trainer meeting this week and they emphasized following the morning schedule and Reading preach my gospel. I'll start with the morning schedule.

There is a quote by Jeffery R Holland that says “I frequently say to missionaries in the field, ‘You make or break your mission every morning of your life. You tell me how those morning hours go from 6:30 a.m. until you are on the street in your mission, whatever time it is; you tell me how those hours go, and I will tell you how your day will go, I will tell you how your month will go, I will tell you how your year will go and how your mission and your life will go.’”  This is so true! Even when we wake up 15 minutes late or don't effectively study, we don't have that same spirit has if we wake up on time or study the whole time. We have a lot more success when we give it our all and follow that schedule.

Now preach my gospel. Studying preach my gospel everyday is the way to be an effective missionary. It literally answers any question you have and shows how you can be your best. Our goal as a mission is to become a "preach my gospel missionaries" so that is the focus right now.  

Remember last week when I said the Lord always sends miracles when we have moments of struggle? Well it happened again this week! I was having a tough time and I was really down on myself. And then we got a call for our investigator Mary. She was just calling to see if we were still coming bye because she had something really important to tell us. So we went over there with our bishop and his wife and Mary fed us Chinese food. And after dinner she told us that she decided she was going to become a Mormon. She said she had so many experiences this week that she knew this was what she needed to do. So she will be baptized on November 22nd! She told us there is nothing that will drag her away from this church. It has been amazing to see the change in her in the past few weeks. 

Also we got a call from the sisters in our district that told us there was a guy that wanted a blessing. They told us his name and we realized he was the guy that shut us down. He didn't want to hear anything about the church so we were really surprised that he wanted us to come and give him a blessing. We got there and he told us that when we came by last time there was some spirit that we brought that was very comforting. Its great that everybody truly sees us as representatives of Jesus Christ. But anyways we asked him what prompted him to get a blessing and he said "I've heard my family who is Mormon talk about blessings of healing and I feel like that it would help" He has a hole in his leg that isn't heeling and its hurting him. So we gave him a blessing and in the blessing we promised him if he puts his faith in Jesus Christ then he will be healed. After the blessing he thanked us and said that we could come over anytime. So hopefully we will be able to start teaching him!

But we found so many pure In heart people this week that we will start teaching. I know that because we were more obedient that lord led us to them. Like preach my gospel says "There is no other satisfying work than missionary work" And it is so true! I love this work so much and I know this is were I need to be and were I want to be. 

Thanks for all the love and support

With sincere love,

Elder Jeppson